Senators led by Dianne Feinstein of California introduced legislation on Thursday to replace the corn ethanol portion of the Renewable Fuel Standard. National Corn Grower’s Association President Chip Bowling says it’s another attack on the RFS which has proven to be a solid and good program for the economy and the environment. He says this latest attempt to dismantle the RFS doesn’t make any sense and is shortsighted.
Bowling says corn growers and ethanol producers have weaned themselves off every other government subsidy and are moving ahead providing their own investment to promote their product.
Besides Corn Growers, Growth Energy and National Farmers Union are expressing disappointment with the Feinstein legislation. Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis says ethanol has clear environmental benefits and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 34 percent compared to gasoline. NFU President Roger Johnson says the RFS is good for communities and keeps the U.S. on a steady path to energy independence.
